Sciences au Sud n°33 - January-February 2006
February 2006
Of volcanoes and cities
The international symposium Cities on volcanoes in Quito from 23 to 27 January gives the opportunity to review IRD’s volcanology research conducted in conjunction with the geophysics department of the National Polytechnic of Quito. The Andes, and especially the parts in Ecuador, are like a full-sized natural laboratory with a multitude of volcanoes, both active and extinct. Moreover, two major types – cones with lava flows and ash deposits or viscous lava domes – are found concentrated in a relatively restricted area. Neighbouring many of the active volcanoes are some densely populated urban areas, a situation that presents all the risks that eruption would involve. The threat for human populations is therefore ever present in this region. It necessitates highly effective management of volcanic hazards and improvement of prevention measures. This can be helped by devising increasingly reliable and finely accurate eruption forecasting systems.
The research investigations conducted by IRD teams therefore aim to achieve an improved understanding of mechanisms of volcanic activity in particular localities in order to predict the effects: What volume of mud can form on eruption of volcanoes capped with glaciers? What areas could be inundated with mud flows, in particular
around Cotopaxi? What factors trigger avalanches of debris associated with the region’s volcanic activity?
